Cox obtained his Ph.D. in 2008 at the University of Durham in the U.K. He continued his training as a cancer-cell biologist at the Institute of Cancer Research in London and then in the laboratory of Janine Erler at the University of Copenhagen. He started his own group at the Garvan Institute of Medical Research in late 2016. He now is the matrix and metastasis group leader.

The Tabor award recognized Cox’s research on the effects of extracellular matrix remodeling on cancer progression, metastasis and therapy response. He has shown that ECM remodeling is induced by post-translational modifications that alter its biochemical and biomechanical properties and that lysyl oxidase and lysyl oxidaselike family members play an important role in this process. As a long-term goal, Cox intents to establish a novel therapeutic approach to treat solid cancers by targeting ECM dynamics.

“Being awarded the Journal of Biological Chemistry/Herbert Tabor Young Investigator Award is a tremendous honor for me,” says Cox. “Over the years, I have seen many fantastic junior researchers awarded this prestigious prize and feel very privileged to be one of the 2016 recipients.”